Swiffer WetJet & 360* Duster with Gain Review

CLEANING

Cleaning your home doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think. The most dreaded part of cleaning for me isn’t dishes or even laundry. It has always been mopping the floors and dusting.

The Swiffer WetJet with Gain Solution

It just seemed like it took FOREVER. The mop buckets are a thing of the past! No more back breaking work! Filling up buckets, dipping the mop into the bucket, mopping the floor, and rinsing the mop..  The water turns a dirty dingy color and it just FEELS like I’m spreading more germs on my floor than cleaning off with a regular mop.

With the Swiffer Sweeper it’s nothing like that. It’s totally different from mopping with a regular mop. There’s no bucket, steaming hot water, and dipping and squeezing (STEAMING) hot water over and over.

You pull the battery pack down, put the batteries in, attach the solution and wa-lah! You press a button to squeeze the solution and the bottom of the WetJet has velcro strips on the bottom that attaches the pad to the machine.

When  you’re done with the pad (it cleans 2 entire rooms with just one pad) peel it off and throw it away! How easy is that to maintain? It even has a scrubber on the top of the WetJet so that if you run into something that’s hard to get off- you can scrub it and then wipe it up with the pad.

The new Gain solution smells absolutely incredible. I was cleaning the floor one night before Adam came home on his lunch break and he told me that the house smelled like clean clothes.. LOL.

I love walking into the rooms I just cleaned with this solution. It smells so fresh and invigorating. I swear- mopping with the WetJet is nothing like mopping. It’s actually fun and less of a chore.. I love that it’s easy to use and maintain (and easy to put together).

The freshness is unbelievable. Usually a floor will smell like the cleaner for 15 minutes after it’s been cleaned, but the Gain WetJet solution seems to last for almost an hour. Freshness for that long I can live with, especially with kids in the house.

I love that this has saved me time AND sanity. I have mop at least every other day. My floors are linoleum and I have a gravel driveway. No amount of rugs can keep the dust and dirt at bay!

With the WetJet I can just spray a little here and there and go over it after it’s been swept. It doesn’t seem so much like a chore now! AND I save tons of time that can be spent on other things (LIKE ME TIME!) Woo-hoo!

The Swiffer 360* Duster with Gain

The 360* dusters make dusting the tables, knick knacks, and electronics SO much easier. The other dusters don’t work very well and there were still traces of dust left, even after going over them more than once.

It was horrible because it would take me more than 45 minutes just to dust the necessary items (that isn’t even including the random stuff around the house).

This was an unbearable chore, something that has to be done on a daily basis on my house! It was so MUCH work- to the point I would try and find something better than the regular dusters. I ended up using a regular washcloth there for awhile—even though that didn’t even work very well.

When I got the 360* dusters with Gain I immediately fell in love. The Gain dusters are refills to the regular 3608 dusters, so if you have a duster you can just buy the refill pack.

They are nice because they actually get the job done the first time around. I didn’t have to swipe, swipe, swipe and still see dust sitting there. The feathers actually grab the dust mites and hold them in. You can see the dirt stuck to the side of the duster when you’re done.

It’s awful living in a house with a gravel driveway, because all that dust from the gravel gets brought inside. No matter how many times I wash off our glass coffee and end tables, electronics, and T.V the dust is still there thick as ever the next morning. My patience was wearing pretty thin!

With the 360* duster, I can move it around the knick knacks and electronics without having to pick them up. I can swipe it one time and be done with it. I don’t have to keep wiping to make sure all the dust is gone.

I love that it not only cleans the dust and dirt, but because they now have gain on them- they leave a freshness behind where a dusty smell once was. I am IN LOVE with this new partnership, it is truly marvelous!

Buy It: Swiffer WetJet System $21.99

WetJet Gain Solution 

Swiffer 360* Duster $4.99

 Swiffer 360* Gain Refills

Connect with Swiffer on Facebook and Twitter

Jessica Renee

Review: Tiny Prints Personalized Mother’s Day Coffee Mugs

Waking up in the morning to a nice steaming cup of coffee couldn’t get much better, could it? It could if the people you love most is on your coffee cup.

Mother’s day is less than 2 weeks away and I decided to get my mom, my mother-in-law, and myself a nice coffee mug with the kids’ pictures on it for that special day.

I am big about pictures. I love and cherish each picture that I have taken through the years. It’s memories that can’t ever be replaced. Whether it was their birth, holding their head up, crawling, walking, or a special place or event.

Those are what mean the world to me, and I know that is the case with other mom’s as well. They cherish those beautiful eyes and smiles, goofy grins, first teeth popping through, and first day of school.

Every morning I wake up to my 2 beautiful kids saying hello to me from my cup. I love it. There’s nothing in the world that could have said “Happy Mother’s Day” more than that. Even though it was a present to myself!

I ended up giving mom and my mother-in-law their gifts early. I couldn’t wait to see their faces when they seen the cups. They already have the random pictures spaced around their home, but neither of them have actual “THINGS” with the kids pictures on them.

My mom came and got hers first. She was in shock. She loved it! She was thoroughly happy with her gift. When you give someone a personalized gift like that, there’s no way that they won’t be happy with it.

Aidan, my 6 year old son asked my mom if she was going to drink out of the cup and she said No. She said “Nana’s going to put this up, this is a keepsake”. He said “Did you see me on your cup?” He was happy that his picture was on her cup. It made me laugh to see the way he was looking at the cup when she pulled it out of the Styrofoam.

Anita, my mother-in-law came the next day to get hers. She was ecstatic with the cup. Adam woke up when she was here and she said “Did you see the cup Jessi made for me?” She was smiling from ear to ear.

She called me later that night and told me that she was showing and telling everyone about the cup. She said she even hid it in her bedroom so that it wouldn’t get broken. I was laughing because you would’ve thought it was an antique vase worth millions the way she was acting about it.

I was truly glad that they both liked their gifts! I really love my coffee cup too. I’ve seen people with their “mugs” and never using any other mug even though they have more than 10 in their cabinets. They’d always use the same one and I wondered why. I’ve never been like that until now, and now I know why. It’s something that is cherished, loved, and YOURS!

I was very surprised at the quality of the coffee mugs. For only costing $19.99 a piece, they were VERY high quality. The pictures were very clear, you could see all the details and nothing was the least bit foggy.

The designs on the mugs are priceless, they are SO cute. There were many to choose from too, which also surprised me. They had so many that I liked, and you can customize the words, text, and colors of the background.

I am always scared of buying something breakable through the mail. Not because of the company but because the way the mail companies, UPS, and FedEx usually treat the packages. Even if they say breakable on them, they usually get thrown and tossed (it seems like it).

Even the package when it came had a hole in the top of it like someone stuck their fist through it, so I was expecting the worst when I opened it.

They all arrived perfectly though. I was so glad. Tinyprints knows exactly what they are doing when it comes to packaging something so it doesn’t get broken. The cups were snugly fit inside hard Styrofoam cases and taped tightly together.

Each box was individually placed in their own box, which is great for gift giving (in my case). There was one picture that was a little too grainy to put as a BIG picture on one of the mugs and Tinyprints emailed and called me about it so I could fix it right away. I really liked that, because it let me know right away that there was a problem and it couldn’t be sent out until the picture was changed.

So I immediately changed it, and a notice was emailed to me that the order was being shipped and I got it within 2-3 days of placing the order and finalizing it. It was easy to upload my pictures, choose which ones should be on what mug, and change the colors and texts!

It was fun, simple, and cheap! If you’re looking for a unique, personalized gift for your mother, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, or grandma—this is the PERFECT place to pick one up!

Tiny Prints Mother’s Day Custom Mugs starting at $15.99

Jessica Renee

Beauty Review-MyChelle Dermaceuticals: Vitamin A Plus Serum & Supreme Polypeptide Cream

 

Vitamin A Plus Serum

Skin-refining Vitamin A and nourishing antioxidants improve the texture and smoothness of rough, dull, and congested skin. Retinol and naturally-derived Vit-A-Like* work together to resurface skin, clearing pore blockage and minimizing the appearance of lines. Argan oil, naturally high in Vitamin E and Essential fatty acids, works to balance sebum production.

Give tired skin a healthy boost of restoring vitamins and antioxidants for renewed vibrancy, clear pores, and ultra-smooth textures.

Directions: For ultra-smooth, vibrant skin apply two pumps in the evening. Wait 30 minutes before following with the mist and nourishing cream. Serums may be layered for multiple benefits. This product will increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun; use only at night.

 

My Review

I love that this has a pump action top. It makes it so much easier to get the amount that you need without wasting. You get the right amount and no more.

It is a yellowish creamy like serum that smells absolutely delicious. It smells like flowers to me, but it may smell different to you. It’s the first serum that I’ve seen that actually smells good.

It soaks right in, although they tell right on the bottle to wait 30 minutes before putting anything on top of it so that it has the maximum time to sink into the skin before being smothered by something else.

Just the two weeks that I’ve been using this, I can already tell a big difference in my pores and the clarity of my skin. I had been using a nightcream that was very thick and was clogging up my pores. I could see the blackheads stuck like glue inside my nose pores.

I tried and tried to get the blackheads out. Using tons of different blackhead washes, creams, and ointments and nothing was working. I felt like I had GUNK and JUNK inside my pores. I leaned in real close to the mirrors and started pressing on the blackheads with my fingernails and they were so bad that they started seeping oil out.

It was very nasty, and I ended up cutting my nose with the side of my nail trying to get all the blackheads out. My skin felt like my hair feels when I don’t wash the conditioner all the way out. Greased up and too much product.

This is the only thing that really started helping with the thickness of the pores. I’m not mentioning what night cream this was that clogged them up in the first place, but I will never use it again.

I already have oily skin, but it promised to rejuvenate and replenish my skin cells. Hydrate, moisturize, and renew the skin so I bought it and used it. Worse mistake ever. It’s okay for people who have dry skin, but not me.. I ended up giving it to my mom.

I’m just thankful for the clear, blackhead free pores that I am now sporting. I absolutely HATE wearing foundation unless I have to, and I was seriously sporting foundation AND concealer on my nose to try and hide the hideousness before using the Vitamin A Plus Serum!

I love how healthy and glowing my skin looks now. Now I don’t have to wake up and cake on the concealer and foundation trying to hide blackheads that shouldn’t have been there in the first place!

I can now (on every other day) scrape the dead skin cells off my face. This serum is hands-DOWN the best serum I’ve ever used. Just within the short amount of time I’ve used this- my skin has turned a 180*. All those blocked pores, the oil, and the “dinginess” that came from the blocked pores are now gone!

I can’t believe how amazing this smells, feels, and works in just a short period of time. This is for a variety of skin (all/combination).. so whether you have oily, dry, combination, or even sensitive skin—this is perfect for you!

Buy It: MyChelle Vitamin A Plus Serum for $39.99

Supreme Polypeptide Cream

Unscented, nutrient-rich recontouring cream lifts and retexturizes skin for a more refined, youthful appearance. Matrixyl* synthe’6* reduces wrinkle volume by 21% and wrinkle depth by 19% in 8 weeks. Proteasyl* TP Pea Peptide is clinically proven to improve skin’s elasticity, increasing overall firmness by 35% in just 6 weeks. Rice Peptides improve the skin smoothness while Syn*-Coll Peptide triggers skin’s own reparative function to accelerate collagen production.

Directions: For youthful, smooth and radiant skin, apply a quarter-size amount to face and neck AM and PM after cleansing, treating, and applying serums.

My Review

This cream is a thick, white, creamy lotion like cream that goes on after you’ve cleaned your face and applied your toners, mists, and serums. It smells like a fragranced baby powder to me- which is a good thing.

It has immediate actions when going on. The skin just soaks it up and lavishes in it. Although I haven’t been using it for 6-8 weeks, I’ve already noticed that my skins texture has already improved. It increases not only the skin’s elasticity but it improves overall firmness.

I haven’t been using it long enough to say anything about the elasticity, but I can already tell how much my skin loves this cream. My skin looks so moisturized, healthy, and much more supple now.

It is thick but it doesn’t clog pores like other creams *ahem NIGHT creams*.. and it can be used day and/or night and can be applied before sunscreen and after moisturizer during the day.

I love the fact that it moisturizes but isn’t so thick that it causes zits or blemishes in my already oily zones. It has an amazing consistency, thick yet applies lightly and soaks in immediately.

It’s light enough to go under makeup without making it roll up, dissolve, or come off before the end of the day. It actually provide the perfect base for foundation- to where it looks almost airbrushed. Although it has a fragrance, it’s a light refreshing fragrance that doesn’t linger for a very long time.

This cream triggers your skin’s own reparative function so that it helps boost your collagen production. This is what helps your skin look and feel smoother and more firm over time.

As we get older our skin loses much of it’s elasticity and collagen. Although nothing is going to make you look 20 again when you’re 45- other than a face lift of course—there are products out there that can help you along the way!

Buy it: MyChelle Supreme Polypeptide Cream Unscented $53.39

Connect with MyChelle online: Twitter and Facebook

 

Jessica Renee

Beauty Review: Nexxus Youth Renewal Shampoo and Conditioner

Having beautiful, youthful, healthy looking hair isn’t a thing from the past. It can ACTUALLY happen.

Nexxus products are always top of the line, high quality, great smelling, and fast working- and the Youth Renewal Shampoo and Conditioner are no exception.

I am love with the sleek look of the design of the bottles! They just look so modern and pretty in my shower..  

The Shampoo is very thick, rich, and creamy. It produces such a rich lather that it feels like I’m washing my hair with liquid silk. As soon as it touched my hair, I could feel a difference (EVEN STILL IN THE SHOWER)!

It smells amazing- it reminds me of a mixture of candy and sweet smelling flowers. YUM. AND the scent stays in my hair all day. I love the results I got with just ONE wash much less two, three, and four.

Within the first wash you can see less frizz, more manageability, softness, shine, and OOOOOOOhhh the hair feels so silky.

My hair is squeaky clean with just one wash of this shampoo. I have long oily-prone hair that needs washing on a daily basis. Even though the cost isn’t cheap, it’s well worth it. I’m actually using half the amount each time that I would normally use with a regular shampoo (even organic shampoos). The lather works up well, so you don’t need much to reach from root to tip!

My hair has fallen in lust I think. My hair has less frizz, which can get out of hand at times if I don’t use a frizz reduction serum and blow dry it. With this, I can let it air dry and the frizz never shows up! I can straighten it later after it’s completely dry so that it isn’t getting so much “HEAT” damage!

My hair seems to be plumped up and have extreme volume with the mixture of the shampoo and conditioner. Although my hair is long, it isn’t usually on the “thick” and “has volume” radar. I love the look of my hair after using these, especially when I DO blow dry it. I can see all my layers which isn’t something that happens quite often having a finer hair—they kind of blend in together! AND the volume lasts all day without being weighed down!!

The conditioner just adds to the brilliancy that comes from the shampoo. I can use this conditioner on a daily basis without any issues, oiliness, or feeling like it’s starting to drag at the end of the day. (Which happens for me when a conditioner is too oily.)

The Nexxus Youth Renewal Conditioner hits it right on the nose. My hair is definitely more manageable, untangles easily in the shower, and smells amazing all day.

The conditioner is very creamy and a quarter size amount gets my entire head from root to tip without a problem. I’d been noticing that my head was starting to itch before using these products. It was a combination of dry scalp and being burnt in the tanning bed. I can wash and condition with these on a daily basis and no more itching! It effectively nourishes my scalp without it drying and flaking!!

Buy IT! $14.99 for each the Nexxus Youth Renewal Shampoo and  Nexxus Youth Renewal Conditioner. Click here to find a store near you!

Connect with Nexxus Online: Facebook and Twitter

 

Jessica Renee

Beauty Review: Acure Organics Superfruit + Chlorella Growth Factor Gel Cleanser

Features

• Purifies and cleanses without drying
• Removes makeup
• Helps maintain skin’s natural acid mantle
• Food grade ingredients
• Great for combo to oily skin
• Paraben free, Vegan, Synthetic fragrance free, Silicone free, Phthalate free, Gluten free
• Fair trade certified ingredients

This gentle cleanser is a non-soap organic face wash. It has a gel texture, although it does soap up. It comes in a white plastic bottle with a flip top, so it’s easy and convenient for those groggy mornings when you can barely keep your eyes open.

I love the design on the packaging and bottle. It’s green and hot pink bubbles around the side! I love that every product they make has a different design, which makes it LOOK awesome on my shelf!

It smells heavenly—YUM—fruity. It smells like a mixture of tangerine, mango, and grapefruit. If that doesn’t wake up those groggy eyes, I don’t know what will. It’s a great morning starter.

It works on two levels. One to clean the dirt and oil from your face, and second to wash all makeup off. It leaves my skins super soft, radiant, and smelling amazing. I love how refreshing and invigorating it is.

It has antioxidants in it that helps to maintain your skin’s natural acid mantle while activating new cell growth. All this without exfoliating! How awesome!!

It only takes a very small amount to wash both my face and my neck. I also love that it not only clears blocked pores, but it is proven to NOT reclog them.

It’s a vegan product that is sulfate and cruelty free, has no parabens, PEGs, petroleum, phthalate, or silicones. Wash away the worries! AND worry lines with this amazing Superfruit and Chlorella Growth Factor Cleansing Gel.

I don’t WANT to wear makeup. I want to go without it if I want. When you have acne, it makes your self esteem drop to the lowest rod on the totem pole. You wear makeup to cover the blemishes, and makeup ends up making it worse.

I’m glad that this not only cleanses, but it’s natural. Nothing to dry the skin out, break it out even worse, cause redness, or irritation. It smells good enough to eat, and smaller than a DIME size washes my entire face. Who could ask for more?

Buy it for yourself:

 Acure Organics Superfruit + Chlorella Growth Factor Gel Cleanser

Connect with Acure Organics:

Facebook and Twitter

 

Jessica Renee

Beauty Review: Citrus Clear Face Cleansing Products

Citrus Clear is a company devoted to making skin cleansing products that are also GREAT for the environment as they are for your skin. You’ll not find any chemicals or anything harmful in the ingredients.





Tangerine Tingle


They sent me three products to review. The first product is the Tangerine Tingle. This is built to repair! It is designed to remove dead skin cells, while enabling a clearer, brighter complexion.

Tangerine Tingle $12.75
About it: The Tangerine Tingle Face Scrub can be used as a face wash or a face mask. The longer you leave it on, the more it tingles! The tingling action is from the ingredients in the scrub doing two things. One, removing dead skin cells and two, stimulation production in new, fresh skin cells. It contains gentle exfoliating ingredients which remove oil, dirt and impurities. It contains glycolic acid which exfoliates dead skin cells and keeps pores from clogging. Lemon oil helps improve and brighten complexion.
There are two ways that you can use this. You can use this as an exfoliating face wash, OR you can use it as a mask. To use this as a wash, you wash your face with warm water, and apply with gently circular motion to exfoliate the skin. As a mask you apply this and leave it for 2-4 minutes and rinse with cool water.
I love the packaging of these items. This comes in a 2 oz. glass jar with a tangerine label on the top of the jar. As I opened the jar, the first thing I noticed was how great it smelled. It smells JUST like tangerines!
This is awesome for using in the morning. The fresh Orange/Tangerine fruit smell is refreshing and invigorating. It wakes up my senses and my face. I use this more as a mask then as a wash, although before I wash it off, I make sure to rub it around my face to exfoliate.
The longer it’s on my face, the more it starts to tingle. I love putting this on my face before I start my day, it FEELS amazing. My skin just feels so clean and refreshed after. I can tell that the combination of these three items not only repair damaged skin, but also keep the acne at bay.
I’ve had really oily skin since I’ve started tanning. It’s where I sweat in the tanning bed, so I make sure to exfoliate every other day with this and continue with the rest of the Citrus Clear line!
Lemon Grove Antibacterial
Acne Wash

This is built for controlling the acne. Designed for acne-prone skin. Exclusive citrus formula fights acne and kills bacteria.

• maximum strength
• prevents breakouts
• amino acids and vitamin C
• Organic Ingredients

Control Acne Wash $34.99
About it: Control Acne Wash clears acne, blackheads and oily skin with an uplifting note of citrus. It's a powerful face wash for oily, acneic, problematic and combination skin. The formula contains a mix of the most potent citrus and acne fighting ingredients that will reduce acne and excess oil from facial skin. The ingredients are designed to penetrate pores and fight acne causing bacteria. The vitamins and minerals remove excess oil and keeps pores from clogging.
Directions: gently wash face with warm water. Massage lightly onto skin paying attention to oily, acne prone areas. Rinse. Can be used twice a day.

This is the second thing I use in the morning (AND use it at night as well). This is a thick, yellow gel like face cleanser that DOES smell like lemons. It can be used by itself, or following the Tangerine Tingle.
It suds up very easily, so you don’t need very much at all to get your entire face and neck (possibly 1/2 pump.) The bottle is glass with a pump action top that locks closed when not in use.
This is awesome for cleansing the face of all bacteria (which causes blemishes and acne). I don’t get a LOT of acne, but I do get SOME. I do get a LOT of pesky blackheads on my nose though, which I hate.
I noticed that the oil coming from my nose pores wasn’t as bad when using this. I could easily squeeze the blackheads out after using it. Usually there was too much oil for me to do so. I could get some of them out, but not all. Within two days of using this, my blackheads were almost all gone.


Grapefruit Acne Spot
Treatment

This is also built to control acne. Spot treatment to heal, fight, and fade acne. Convenient size for portability for anytime, anywhere acne control.

• Salicylic acid dissolves oil
• Minimizes pores
• prevents breakouts

Grapefruit Acne Spot Treatment $12.99
About it: This spot treatment contains a maximum strength dose of salicylic acid to treat existing and prevent future breakouts. It even prevents the formation of blackheads. It contains 100% naturally derived grapefruit extract and vitamin C. This is the best defense against breakouts of acne. It's designed for use right on the spot where the acne breakout has occurred. It may be used up to 5 times per day to clean away the oil and heal the site of the acne.
Directions: Apply to target area. Can be used multiple times per day. For face and body applications.

The grapefruit acne spot treatment is also a thick gel. You need VERY little because it only goes on spots where you have blackheads or blemishes that are already existing.
This can be used on your face AND body blemishes, AFTER cleansing but before putting moisturizers, lotions, or toners on. I use this after I have used the Tangerine Tingle and the Acne wash.
After I squeeze the excess blackheads from my nose, or pop any remaining blemishes- I rub this into it. It burns for a second, but then it sinks in and starts smoothing the skin out.
I was happy with all 3 products- and the best thing about them is that they are organic and don’t cost an arm and a leg.!

Connect with Citrus Clear:

Facebook & Twitter



Jessica Renee

Beauty Review: Mary Kay Concealer & TimeWise Repair™ Volu-Firm™ Eye Renewal Cream

Spring is here (well.. ON some days). I think it’s in recession lol. A couple of days out of the week it’ll be in the 70’s and 80’s.. then it turns cold and starts raining and drops down to the low 50’s.

BUT—we all know what springtime means- ALLERGIES! Watery eyes, red noses and puffy faces. For me it means catching up on work that I’ve missed, late nights, too much housework, and finally getting to show off my tan! YAY.

Mary Kay has some awesome products to help with the Allergy symptoms if you suffer from them.

To relieve discomfort:

· Soothe puffy eyes on contact with Mary Kay TimeWise Repair Eye Renewal Cream

o Targets undereye bags, puffiness and dark circles

o Unique zamac metal applicator tip gently massages the under eye to help reduce puffiness and provide a fresh, cooling effect

· Combat dryness and brighten complexion with Mary Kay Moisture-Renewing Gel Mask

o Cooling mask contains a potent blend of vital skincare essentials, including moisture-loving Sodium Hyaluronate, Vitamins E and B3, and an extract of superfruit Acai Berry

o Helps skin feel calm, purified and nourished

To distract from watery eyes and a red nose:

· Apply Mary Kay Concealer under the eyes to diminish dark undereye circles and under the nose to conceal red irritation

o Available in six natural shades plus yellow (to reduce the appearance of red in the skin tone)

· Use Mary Kay Facial Highlighting Pen on the top of cheekbones and the inner corner of the eyes to brighten the face

o Special light-reflecting pigments optically “lift” the shadowy areas of your face

o Available in four luminous shades

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The Eye Cream

 

I was sent two of the items which are the Mary Kay Concealer & TimeWise Repair™ Volu-Firm™ Eye Renewal Cream. Both of these products are amazing, work like they should, and a little goes a long way!

The TimeWise Repair™ Volu-Firm™ Eye Renewal Cream is a mineral oil– and Vaseline-based eye cream. It comes in a cute little pink/purple tube that is equipped with a special special applicator tip that help is supposed to reduce puffiness and microcirculation as you apply.

I’ve been using this at night after I wash and exfoliate but before putting on night serums and toners. I love the easy to use tip. It makes it a LOT easier for my nighttime routine. No dipping fingers or cotton swabs into JARS! Yay!

I haven’t noticed any itching, redness, or peeling (the eye cream peeling off). It can be worn during the day as well *under makeup* even concealer, foundation, and doesn’t smear mascara! yay!

It absorbs very quickly and because it comes with a squeeze tube there isn’t any being wasted! That’s a big plus for me! I can use just what I need and no more.

I need to reduce the puffiness and black circles that appear working taking care of 2 kids, a home, work, a husband (although we aren’t officially married), and myself.

I haven’t been using this for long.. but I love the way it feels. It’s silky, creamy, and absorbs instantly.

Soothe puffy eyes on contact with Mary Kay TimeWise Repair Eye Renewal Cream

o Targets undereye bags, puffiness and dark circles

o Unique zamac metal applicator tip gently massages the under eye to help reduce puffiness and provide a fresh, cooling effect

Reawaken tired eyes and give them a lifted look.

• Targets deep lines, wrinkles and sagging skin.
• Targets undereye bags, puffiness and dark circles.
• Targets crepiness and dry skin.
• Increases skin moisture for 12 hours.
• Features a unique liquid crystal delivery system that helps enhance effectiveness.
• Contains the benefits of the Volu-Firm™ Complex.

Buy It: The Mary Kay TimeWise Repair Eye Renewal Cream $40

The Concealer

When it comes to concealer I need something that will help cover up my dark under eye circles. Being a mom of 2 kids under 6, working from home in my spare time, and keeping the house and kids in order is very tiring.

I don’t get very much sleep at all. When I do, I end up sleeping for a very long time because my body needs to catch up on what it’s missing. There for awhile, I WAS caught up on sleep- the bags disappeared and I went makeup-LESS everywhere. It was a very beautiful feeling..

As we all know though, life must go on. Kids need taking care of, work needs to get done (long long hours of work), clothes need washing and folding, dishes need washing, kids need taking care of.. and my life is a big giant circle of trying to keep up.

The dark mean shadowy circles always come back and finding a great lightweight concealer that has great coverage and last almost all day is a must. This is where the Mary Kay Concealer comes in!

“Mary Kay® Concealer offers natural, skin-toned shades to help conceal  imperfections or dark undereye circles. The Yellow concealer shade can help reduce the appearance of redness in the skin tone. All concealers are clinically tested for skin irritancy and allergy, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic.”

I usually go for a beige, because even before all the tanning sessions I had a darker complexion. I got sent the beige and I’m pretty sure I should’ve chosen the bronze 2 (because it’s darker) but I am still very impressed with both the makeup of the concealer, how well it works, and how long it lasts.

Very VERY little is needed to cover up those imperfections that all of us women want to hide from the world. We need to keep our “secrets” our secrets. I don’t want to go out into the world showing my dark circles, bags, and having it scream “I am a MOM, and it shows”.

This has helped me more ways in one. Not only is it CHEAP on the pockets, but very little is needed. This means that the ONE bottle will last longer than a month. SO, I’m saving money, my beauty, and my sanity all in one. Miracle in a squeeze tube? Yep, that’s exactly what I’m thinking.

Did you hear that? A squeeze tube! This makes it easier for me to get ready in the mornings! I don’t have to fight shaking the liquid out a bottle and getting too much and wasting it. I can squeeze just the right amount for the job onto my finger, right on the dark circles, OR a cosmetic sponge.

The concealer is incredibly pigmented, it completely covers up my dark circles without anything showing! Ughh how amazing it felt, LIKE putting on a pair of brand new boots. Just how creamy, thick, and luscious it felt.

No woman in their right mind wants a watery concealer that runs down their face and wears off showing their imperfections! Hide those babies! This concealer is so rich and soft that I don’t have to worry about it wearing off within the hour!

It is covered up and mixes very well with my foundation. I can take picture after picture and not have to check my mirror every 10 minutes! I think the best part is that it doesn’t SINK into lines or smudge up. It covers dark spots as well as acne and dark circles! Oh and it’s WATERPROOF.

Buy It: Mary Kay Concealer  for $10 in 7 different shades.

 

 

Jessica Renee

Book Review: Sewing Solutions Tips and Techniques for the Savvy Sewist by Nicole Vasbinder; Interweave Publishing

Have a sewing mishap? Sewing Solutions has you covered! Even the most experienced sewist encounters problems, snags, and little glitches. When you need answers, you’ll find no better resource than Sewing Solutions, from expert teacher and author Nicole Vasbinder.

 

Organized by stages, you’ll find:

• Detailed Advice about the sewing process, including pros and cons, and basic considerations of working with a variety of tools and materials.
• An easy to follow layout that provides basic information as well as step-by-step techniques for making bias tape, attaching and sewing trims, buttonholes, zippers, hems, and more.
• Troubleshooting tips that advise how to deal with common sewing obstacles.

Whether choosing the right tools, reading patterns correctly, and everything in between, Sewing Solutions will prove to be an essential sewing companion.

My Review

 

This book hits right on the money. Whether you are a beginner needing to know the basics of sewing, someone who has the basics down but wants to know OTHER certain things (like how to translate pattern envelopes), or an expert who just needs a touch-up.

I’m the middle-man in sewing expertise. I’m not a beginner, but yet I’m not an expert either. There are a few EXTRA’s that I really needed to know about- such as the different types of clothing patterns.

I’ve made just about every type of bag, wallet, tote, and toys you could imagine- but I have issues with clothing. I’m scared to use that much fabric and mess it up. There’s only a slight difference between a size 2 and 4- I don’t want to cut it too short and then be stuck with fabric that’s too small to do anything with.

So I really needed help with fitting. I would have loved to own this book when I first began my sewing adventure. They break everything down, tells exactly what it is, and how to work with it.

There are two sections to this book. The first section is nothing but the sewing tools, notions, trims, and miscellaneous items you need to begin sewing. What they are and what they do are both explained so that you know WHY exactly you need them!

The second section is solutions and tips to fabric, patterns, sewing, embellishments, fitting, and finishing. This is what I needed the most help with was the fitting and finishing.

 

Section 1

Chapter 1 is Sewing Tools.  This is the chapter that tells all about the different types of sewing machines, where you can get them (AND make sure you test your machine before taking it home), and how often the machine should be cleaned and what will happen if it isn’t cleaned.

How to insert and wind bobbins, the different stitches, all about Serger machines, and different sewing feet (basic feet, zipper feet, button feet..). The difference between Machine and Hand sewing needles and what the numbers on them mean.

Chapter 2 is notions and trims. This is once you have the basics down pat and are ready to move on to the next level. Notions refer to all sewing materials EXCEPT for the fabric. These are the tools that you use to get the job or project done!

Knowing the difference between the different threading and what projects they are good for is something that EVERY seamstress should know. Then there is the applique, beaded and sequined trims and how to properly sew them onto your project.

This was something that confused me when I first began sewing. I knew how to applique (straight applique), but they have reverse applique as well (which is trickier).

What is bias tape, what is it used for, and can I make my own? These are all questions that are answered in this chapter. As well as attaching braided trims, elastics, and lace.

Did I mention piping, welting, corded edges, pom poms, fringes, and ruffles? These are all covered as well. She doesn’t leave OUT anything in this book. I love that it is broken down into comprehensive wording so that even a beginner can understand.

What about ribbons and rick-rack, Closures, fasteners, D-rings, and eyelets? Hooks, eyes, Snaps, zippers, hook and loop fasteners? All this can be very confusing at first, she tells in detail how to apply each and whether they can be stitched right onto the fabric.

Chapter 3 is marking, measuring, and cutting tools. Besides just your sewing machine and thread, there are other tools that you need. You need to measure, mark, and cut your fabric so you get a precise project fitting. Accurate marking makes it easier to cut, the right (fabric) scissors make it easier to cut, and measuring makes it easier to get it right!

All the tools you need to begin may become a little confusing at first. What are they, what do they do, and the different types of each tool are all listed in this book.

• Tailors chalk
• markers and pens
• tracing wheels
• transfer paper
• basic and specialty measuring tools.
• Cutting Tools
  • Rotary cutters, scissors, self-healing mats

Chapter 4 is miscellaneous tools. These are all the smaller tools that you need that will definitely be of help to you. Pins, seam ripper, point & loop turners, bodkins, seam sealant, bias tape makers, patterned paper, pattern notchers and awls, and dress forms.

These are the tools that you’ll be looking for when you’re in need. The pins hold your completed pattern together why you sew that it doesn’t come apart. A seam ripper helps to tear the seam if you accidentally messed up. Point turners help push the sides out of a purse for instance. These are all really helpful things, and it’s a good idea to know what they are before making the sewing journey.

 

Section 2

There is more to sewing then just grabbing a fabric and starting a project. First you need to know WHICH fabric is best for what project. You don’t want to use linen or something that is lightweight for a purse. You want it to stand-up to wear and tear and not be flimsy and fall apart.

Fabric is made by weaving, pressing, or knitting yarns, threads, or fibers together. So you need to look at the anatomy of the fabric and what you’re choosing before you start a project. Read the pattern and see what type of fabric is needed before you begin.

There are more than 40 different varieties of fabrics and they are all very different. This book breaks down what each are and how you can tell which type of fabric it is.

I didn’t know that if you clipped a small piece off the fabric and burned it you can tell what it is by the way it smells when burning and what the ashes look like. That was very interesting to me, and I’ve already used it a time or two already!

Do you know the difference between interfacing and lining? The different types of each? That there are 7 main things to look for when choosing the right fabric?

The 7 things to look for:

• Drape of the fabric.
  • How does the fabric drape on the body? Does it cling to the curves of your body? Stand away from the body?
• Difficulty of the fabric
  • Use simple fabrics for difficult projects and save the difficult fabrics for the easier stuff, don’t make it harder than it has to be.
• Durability.
  • Everyday items should be used with fabrics that can stand lots of use- don’t use a fabric that pills and frays.
• Expense
  • use low-priced fabrics for projects that need a lot of yardage.
• Hand
  • How does the fabric feel against your hand? Scratchy fabrics won’t work against the skin because they are irritating. They need lining- or choose a softer fabric.
• Plaids and Prints
  • Will there be a lot of seams that interrupt the the print?
• Sheer Fabrics
  • Does it need to be lined? That will add extra time.

Chapter 6 is all about patterns. The front and back of a pattern envelope has important information so that you choose the right size and pattern for your liking.

This breaks down how to clearly decipher the envelope so that you can easily read the information without getting confused or irritated. Each has certain pattern symbols and terms that need to be read without problems.

You’ll easily learn how to see the different pattern pieces. This will help you determine WHICH pattern you actually need to cut (especially helpful if it’s clothing) because it will need to be fitted to your body.

It also shows how to choose the right fabric for certain patterns, and how to lay them so that the grainline matches up with the pattern. I love the little extra tips in the book which help a beginner. TIP: Tissue paper patterns can be hard to work with because they are so flimsy, Iron fusible interfacing to each piece so it’s easier to work with and easier to cut out!

I never even thought about doing that, but I KNEW I hated working with the tissue paper patterns. They are very hard to cut out properly because they are so thin that they rip. Overtime they start to wear and tear as well, which makes it hard to maintain proper pattern cut-out. This is GENIUS!

This is definitely a must-have reference book for anybody wanting to sew or someone who already knows how but needs extra information! This is STAYING right beside my sewing machine from now on. There is tons of invaluable information!

Even if you are an expert, you might need a refresher every now and then- you never know. This is the perfect size to fit right in a sewing drawer or beside your machine! Never be stumped again!

 

About the Author:

 

Nicole Vasbinder owns and operates StitchCraft and an independent accessory line, Queen Puff Puff. A founding teacher of Stitch Lounge in San Francisco, she currently teaches at Stonemountain and Daughter Fabrics. Her designs has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Adorn Magazine, JoAnn Magazine, Venus Zine, and Craft. She lives in Petaluma, California.

Buy It: You can buy the Sewing Solutions- Tips and Techniques for the Savvy Sewist for $19.95

Check out ALL Interweave publishings amazing titles, both new and not!

 

Jessica Renee